Two years back, I luckily got to see this small simplistic film strongly recommended by a dear friend and loved it to the core not only for its bold and unique subject, but for its treatment too, which straight away reminded me of the cinema of Hrishikesh Mukherjee made with an almost similar vision.
The Hindi film maestro had a style and a class of his own as he never made intentional comedies to make you laugh. But made thoughtful, light hearted, entertaining comical films that also had something to convey in terms of a social message enhancing our personal lives. The same were my feelings after watching ONDU MOTTEYA KATHE as the film never looks like made as an intentional comedy but says everything in a highly realistic and relatable manner as if it’s a story happening in our own locality.
Focusing on a Kannada lecturer, struggling with his appearance of a bald man, the film revolves around his efforts to get married within a year as alarmed by an astrologer/priest. And then makes you feel the hardships experienced by him facing the odd looks, laughs and comments made by the cunning, heartless people around. It sharply points towards the age-old prejudices practiced in our society where the physical appearance of the other pre-decides it all, even when we know nothing about him or her as a person.
However, the film scales much bigger heights when later the victim starts judging the other with a similar yardstick and then thoughtfully realises his mistake before it’s too late. This simple revelation of a hypocrite hiding somewhere in all of us truly makes you think hard even after hours. Plus, its such introspective and sensitive presentation of the rare and unusual subject, that actually makes this film a must watch heartfelt attempt without any slightest of doubt.
Having said that it also needs to be seen at the earliest as besides its real cinematography, an enjoyable background score and all delightful performances, the film has been directed by debutant Raj B Shetty, who also plays the bald man on screen himself displaying an amazing grasp of the art in his very first attempt.
A word of praise also needs to be given to writer-producer-director Pawan Kumar (Lucia/2013 and U-Turn/2017) who decided to back the film after watching its first edit, making his debut as a producer for a film not written and directed by him.
Summing it all, ONDU MOTTEYA KATHE (meaning The Story of Egghead) is not just a forced comedy made to give you a good time. It’s a bittersweet realistic comedy instead, that actually talks about our real lives and a bald man in it asking for an equal love and respect. The film was rightly rated as the Kannada film of the year by many and it deservingly also won the Filmfare Award for Best Kannada film in the year 2017.
So just like the producers supported the small effort, the viewers need to support it too. And this must watch gem can now be seen at Netflix (with English Subtitles)
Interestingly, the Kannada film is now being officially made in Hindi as UJDA CHAMAN, but will have to see, whether they also make it with a similar, appreciable vision of the original or not.
So do watch giving it a serious thought, thinking about the bald man in a Kannada film made in the style of Hrishikesh Mukherjee.
Rating: 4 / 5
